Basseterre, St. Kitts (October 27, 2005): In order to make service affordable, the Legal Aid and Advice Centre has minimal fees that are rated according to clients income level.

This was explained by Acting Director of the Centre Attorney Donna Harris, during a St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service interview.  She said that persons whose income is $8,000 per year and less will only pay the application fee while those whose income ranges between $10,000 to $12,000 will pay an application fee and half of the legal aid fee, which is substantially less than the private practice fee.  Clients whose income is $12,000 per year will pay the application fee and the full legal aid fee.

She added that once an individual seeks assistance at the Centre his or her financial means is assessed to see whether or not they can afford the minimal fees.  If it is found that it is not within the individual's ability to pay the fees, the service is provided pro bono or free of cost.

Although the center targets mainly marginalized individuals such as women, the elderly and juveniles who often are of modest financial means, it will also assist men who fall within the specified income bracket.  Attorney Harris provided an example of a male who might be paying maintenance but yet is deprived access to his child.  She advised that such a person can take out a summons for access unless he can be found unworthy.  This would involve being a bad influence on the child and the mother being able to prove that when the child spends time with him it is exposed to bad language, taken to unfit places, or left alone.